Ensuring access to education for all | Interview with Fr. Joseph Xavier, S.J

by PAOLO PEGORARO

The Scholarships Office is well-organised today, with clear guidelines, strongly inclusive and sensitive to everyone’s needs. Ensuring access to education for persons experiencing conditions of need has become increasingly important. There is growing support for the laity and for women’s academic formation

The Gregoriana has given out approximately eight thousand scholarships since it started formalising its support for students almost 25 years ago. The numbers, like the donations earmarked therefor, have steadily increased over the years. Suffice it to mention that in the 2020-2021 academic year - the last one for which definitive figures are available - almost one in six students received financial aid: 516 scholarships were awarded (362 students and 154 female students) out of a total of 2,803 students, corresponding to a total amount of over 734,000 euro. The Faculties most involved in this process are Theology (184 scholarship holders), Social Sciences (143) and Philosophy (45). These are significant numbers, testifying to a firm commitment to include as many applicants as possible in the academic programs. “Education support activity is naturally connected with every educational institution that wishes to ensure universal access to edu-

cation. In the ecclesial world, this is felt even more strongly, and the Gregorian University was determined to fulfil this important and fundamental role,” said Fr. Joseph Xavier S.J., Rector’s Delegate for the Scholarship Office. “Hence, in 1998, with the help of benefactors, a Scholarship Fund was created to award scholarships designed to cover tuition fees for financially disadvantaged students who were preparing to be evangelisers in their home countries and who were found meritorious by virtue of their academic achievements. This activity grew over the years, also thanks to the ever-growing contributions of the University’s benefactors. After a fairly long period of transition, the Scholarship Office is fully operational, with clear guidelines, with a markedly inclusive focus, and sensitive to everyone’s needs.”

And today?

“We are proud to say that the number of students supported in various ways has increased significantly compared to the beginning and that, above all, the nature of the support offered has changed. While the majority of scholarships are still awarded for the payment of academic fees, there are cases where learning support is more substantial and covers also the costs of living - often a major obstacle when deciding to study in Rome.

My name is Zipporah Maureen, a lay woman, doctoral student at the Faculty of Social Sciences. I arrived from Kenya with many expectations, but my primary goal was to obtain an education that would allow me to give a contribution to society - especially young people and women - when I returned to my home country.

I started the 2018-2019 academic year with an integrative year and received my Licentiate in Sociology on June 21, 2021.

Thanks to the scholarship I had been awarded by the University I enrolled in the third cycle of studies and now my doctoral research topic has been approved. As a lay person without my (biological) family here in Italy, balancing studies and personal life would have been impossible had it not been for the scholarship. This grant has allowed me to devote the right amount of time and energy to studying and research activities, with no additional worries. I am grateful to all the benefactors of the Gregoriana who enable so many students like me to have enough time to study and prepare themselves for service in the various social and Church contexts worldwide.

Studying at the Gregoriana is not only an opportunity, it is especially a great responsibility, both on a personal level and with regard to those I will have the responsibility and honour to train - and most importantly to serve - in my society and beyond. Learning, especially about social phenomena through the analysis of causes, effects and interconnections, provides us with the necessary tools, study and interpretative skills by means of quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies with a transdisciplinary approach. I can safely say that the high level of education imparted provides us students with the skills to carry out a range of professional activities and offer solutions to social phenomena in any context. As students who completed their studies at this Jesuit university, I firmly believe - as did St Ignatius of Loyola - in the capacity of each one of us to grow, motivating us to constant improvement and to do even better. I thus feel ready for this great commitment, which is already underway, but I am equally aware of the need for ongoing learning given the new challenges and the dynamism of societies and social phenomena.

ZIPPORAH MAUREEN CHEPKEMOI KIPRONO Faculty of Social Sciences

Previous page: Commission meeting for the awarding of scholarships.

From left to right: the Secretary

General, the Bursar, the Secretary of the Scholarship Office and the

Rector’s Delegate. Photo P. PEGORARO

Scholarships granted: 516 out of 2803 students

Similarly, the Fondo Sostegno Studi al Consorzio (FSSCV), another major scholarship fund created in 2017 by the Father General at the Jesuit General Curia to promote the formation of pastoral leaders in the neediest Churches, adopts the same approach. For several years now, care for those in need has clearly assumed a central role in the allocation of available resources. To a large extent, this criterion goes hand in hand with merit-based evaluation.”

In the academic year 2020-2021, a very

“We estimate a total of over 8,000 scholarships awarded between 1998 and the previous academic year - with the latest available figures. We are pleased to have contributed to the education of so many students and, through them, to have actively contributed to the growth of the local churches.”

Have any clear trends been observed

“The nature of the grantees has emerged more clearly over the years, both in terms of origin and status. Scholarships are granted to everyone, including those who come from the so-called ‘first world’, however, there has been a growing awareness of students from extremely poor and disadvantaged realities. Moreover, a marked openness has developed with regard to new generations of students from countries that have hitherto been less present in pontifical universities.

Also with regard to status, there is growing support for the laity, with a special focus on women’s education.”

Which criteria must be met in apply-

“Requirements and procedures are detailed on our website (www.unigre.it/it/universita/uffici/ufficio-borse-di-studio/). The one indication I would like to convey to those seeking support is that we examine every request we receive with a pastoral spirit.

Also with regard to status, support for lay students, with a focus on women’s education, has been steadily increasing.”

The student’ stories describe the situ-

“Many stories of difficulties have emerged over the years - including in the last three years of my term as Delegate of the Rector - which cannot be ignored. The daily interaction with all of our students prompts us to step up our efforts, both by trying to find customised solutions for their needs, and by offering full collaboration with institutions responsible for securing funding, notably the Gregorian University Foundation (Washington D.C. - Toronto - Rome) and the Freundeskreis der Gregoriana, operating in Germany. Without their hard work and the numerous and generous benefactors of the University, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks, all that has been accomplished over the years would not have been possible.

How can a scholarship student at the

“If a generous person iswilling to help a student, that is indeed something of great value. They may contact us directly by phone or email (+39 06 6701.5271 - borsedistudio@unigre.it). Our office assists individual benefactors in finding the most suitable candidates for awarding their donations. We ensure that the beneficiaries express their appreciation, especially during the Christmas period, and, when possible, we also arrange informal meetings.”

Endowments for development of research and pedagogical upgrades

T Tuuition as ssistance, particularly f for students from developi ing countries

Management and increase of digital and book acquisitions; preservation of ancient texts

R Renovation and restoration of University facilities, areas and equipment

e have been promoting excellence and W leadership in teaching as well as research at the service o of the Church and 1 55the world since 1

•

ontifical he P T G Gregorian University’s mission is the intellectual and hum man formation of students coming from different countries s where they will go back to build the local church’s futur re

• he supporT t

and the generosity of many friends, bene efactors and alumni will allow us to invest new forces as well as resources

to keep offering this service to the best of our abilities.

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